Korean Job Discussion Forums

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

If I were a president, I would give everybody enough money to buy whatever they (want).

In this conditional, is the correct form "want" or "wanted"? Or could they both be used?

Micheal Swan's Basic English Usage only has "If I were you, I should get that car serviced." Honestly ... this only confuses me more.

Thanks for any insight.

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

Maybe its just me, but I'd start that with "If I were president", not "a president". "A president" just sounds strange to me. Usually because most things only have 1 president and when we can only have one of something, we usually refer to it as "the". So either "were president" or "were the president"

if we're talking about fulfilling a current want, we should use present tense I believe. "I would like to help you so that you can write the sentence properly"

Should, as pointed out in this thread, in that kind of sentence is apparently more common in british english:
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/25131-should-would-conditional-sentences.html

steveinincheon · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan

want is correct. In colloquial English "wanted" wouldn't sound that blatantly long, but want is consistent with the present tense.

If I were(conditional present here) president, I would give (conditional present again) everyone enough money to buy whatever they want (indicative present).

KevinLS · Joined: 23 Oct 2009

I would agree that want is more correct than wanted, but wanted isn't wholly incorrect.

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

Thanks. Funny you mentioned "a president" because at first I also thought it was "wrong". But then again ... I thought "a president" could carry the meaning of "the president of any country". However, I agree that it sounds natural the way you have suggested.

Thank you for your reply.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

Since want is a stative verb, it's better to leave it alone, imho.

The second conditional is used to indicate something not likely to happen, yet people will always want for something. However, if someone is less likely to want something, it would be more appropriate to use"wanted."

I would give you my life if you wanted me to.

The Cosmic Hum · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

Thanks for excellent replies from everyone. I really appreciate it.

I try to respond to other questions when I can ... unfortunately it's not often someone poses I question I feel confident I can offer sound advice on. But I do read and reflect on them.

Kind regards.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

I want money, Mr. President.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I think it gives a feeling of known living people when you say "want". If you said wanted, it would sound more general.

"Give the people what they want", specific group of people. "Dear school, my students WANT more candy next Halloween" (another example).

By using "were", you are already distancing yourself from the "people". So, I would say something more like:

If I am president, I will give the people anything they want.
-or-
If I were president, I would give the people what they wanted.

After you give someone something they want, do they want it again? No, so I don't see the logic "want" with "were".